Talking Buffalo

On this Black Friday episode of the Moran-Alytics Podcast, Patrick Moran chats with newly appointed Buffalo Sabres beat reporter over at the Buffalo News, Lance Lysowski in a wide-ranging interview.

With Lysowski completely new to the Buffalo sports scene, this is a “getting-to-know” type conversation and Moran finds out more about Lysowski’s background, including growing up a hockey fan in Youngstown, Ohio and attending Kent State for college. Lysowski talks about his path, one that eventually would lead him to a revamped Buffalo News sports department.

Lysowski discusses spending the past few years covering the Pittsburgh Pirates before the Buffalo News opportunity came about, working alongside Mike Harrington now, what area he has settled in, his initial thoughts on Buffalo, chicken wings (he’s not seasoned enough to know beyond Duffs and Anchor Bar yet) and much more.

You can follow Lance Lysowski on Twitter at @LLysowski and check out his work at covering the Sabres beat at The Buffalo News.

As the podcast closes, Moran plays another track from talented electric guitarist and rock vocalist Robben Ford, whose new studio album Purple House was released two weeks ago. The single is called “Bound for Glory” and you can order the album at: https://robbenford.lnk.to/PurpleHousePR. Be sure to check out Robben’s website www.robbenford.com for music, tour dates, news and plenty more.

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On this episode of the Moran-Alytics Podcast, Patrick Moran talks with the managing editor of Wrestling Inc., one of the biggest and best wrestling websites in the world.  Managing editor Nick Hausman joins to podcast to recap an eventful WWE Survivor Series from Sunday night.

Among the main topics discussed is the unmistakable rise of women wrestling in WWE, Brock Lesnar sort of dismantling new WWE champion Daniel Bryan, the shine potentially wearing off for Asuka, the idiocy that is Enzo Amore and why they even bothered with a kickoff show match that didn’t even count on the Raw vs. Smackdown Survivor Series tally sheet.

Nick also reveals the story behind him playing Dominoes with WWE legend The Godfather in Chicago on Sunday night.

You can follow Nick on Twitter @WIncRebel and check out the Wrestling Inc. website at www.wrestlinginc.com

Before that Moran is joined by Tone Pucks (@tonepucks) for their recurring “Pat with Pucks” chat.  Today they’re discussing the Buffalo Sabres blazing start, including firing back at critics chastising franchise center Jack Eichel over only having four goals through the first 20 games. They also discuss the solid goaltending of Carter Hutton and continued growth of rookie stud defensemen Rasmus Dahlin.

They then turn their attention to the returning from their bye week Buffalo Bills. Considering the parity in the middle of the AFC, Moran’s still upset over the Bills not beating Houston a few weeks ago and inserting themselves into the wild card playoff conversation (yes, playoffs) while Pucks shares what he hopes to see with the Bills over their last six games.

Before getting out the two revisit the Billboard Top 10 songs from this week 34 years ago, because why the hell not.

During the opening segment of the podcast, Moran can’t hide his excitement about the growing possibility of an “The Office” reboot.

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On this episode of the Moran-Alytics Podcast, Patrick Moran is joined for a second time by long-time Buffalo News sports writer Mike Harrington.

Harrington was first on all the way back on Episode No. 11 in April, where they took a deep dive into his life and career.  This time the conversation is more straightforward with an emphasis on the team Harrington diligently covers, the Buffalo Sabres.

The two discuss Buffalo’s hot start that has them sitting among one of the NHL’s better teams after 18 games. Harington talks about the importance that Jeff Skinner and Carter Hutton have brought to the team, how he feels team captain Jack Eichel is progressing in his fourth year in the league, an evaluation of overall number-one draft pick Rasmus Dahlin and more.

Harrington also discusses some of the adjustments and whirlwind that became his life both personally and professionally after several veteran sports writers left The Buffalo News earlier this year for a variety of reasons. It’s been a year of transformation at The News and Harrington provides plenty of insight as to how things have moved forward.

You can follow Harrington on Twitter at @ByMHarrington and of course check out his work at the Buffalo News.

Immediately after Moran is joined by his buddy Joe (@BuffaloWins) for another edition of “The Run-In With Joe.”  Today the guys are talking about Tim Graham’s radio show and whether they agree with Tim having on O.J. Simpson as a call in guest earlier this week.  They also discuss the Buffalo Bills releasing Nate Peterman and the extremely gracious parting words many fans and local media had for him, as well as Joe’s realistic best hope for the rest of the Bills regular season before they end things by recapping an incredibly wild week of WWE action that saw Becky Lynch get injured and Smackdown put the heavyweight title on a heel-turning Daniel Bryan in seemingly makeshift fashion the very next night.

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This episode of the Moran-Alytics Podcast is all about “Pat with Pucks” as Tone Pucks joins Patrick Moran for their weekly conversation on a wide variety of topics.

The two go over what was an incredibly week to be a Buffalo sports fan.  The Buffalo Bills dismantled and embarrassed the New York Jets, 41-10 on their own turf behind an improbable dominant performance from Matt Barkley, who hadn’t started a game at quarterback since 2016.  Who stood out from this game that may actually matter to Buffalo going forward and Nate Peterman’s potential return to the Bills is discussed.

Moran and Pucks (@tonepucks) talk about the Buffalo Sabres promising 9-6-2 start to the NHL season, including a pair of thrilling victories last week; a 6-5 overtime win in Montreal and erasing a two goal deficit inside the final three minutes to score a home shootout win over the Vancouver Canucks.  Jack Skinner has been sizzling hot and Pucks has a take on what he thinks the Sabres may have to ultimately sacrifice to lock Skinner up long term.

Of course, both professional teams pale in comparison to the success of the UB Bulls so far, both football and basketball. The basketball team being ranked in the AP Top 25, making it the first Big Four school to achieve that since 1970 and today’s Puck Drop features a rant on Nate Oats being the best coach to come through Buffalo since…. Marv Levy?

The episode isn’t limited to just Buffalo sports.  Moran informs Pucks that the Chick-Fil-A set to open in Western New York at the end of this month is overrated and the two go over the Top 10 songs on the billboard charts for this week exactly 35 years ago as Tone Pucks once again shows off his vocal prowess.

It’s a segment that can go “All Night Long”

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On this episode of the Moran-Alytics Podcast, NFL insider and reporter Benjamin Allbright joins for a second time to talk with host Patrick Moran about a handful of topics.

His first appearance back on Episode No. 13 in April was one of the most downloaded episodes to date.  Today he discusses Dez Bryant signing with the New Orleans Saints, a scoop Allbright had first but didn’t get credit for the work.  He talks about the frustration that sometimes comes with scoops more/less being stolen in the industry and chimes in on if Bryant’s addition will help the Saints offense.

The two also spend time talking about the Buffalo Bills as Allbright elaborates on his pre-draft thoughts on Josh Allen and how his feelings have been altered since. When it comes to the team itself, he shockingly thinks Buffalo is merely competent quarterback play away from being a playoff caliber team.

Allbright also drops a hard truth about Chad Kelly and sticks to his guns on a preseason Super Bowl prediction.

You can follow Benjamin Allbright on Twitter at @AllbrightNFL.

Immediately following Albright, Joe from New York City (@BuffaloWins) joins Moran for his “Run-In With Joe” segment.  Joe’s trying to refrain from political talk with only moderate success before they turn their attention to the Buffalo Bills, and possibly the most uninteresting matchup of the NFL season looming Sunday against the New York Jets.  They also talk about Lesean McCoy’s future with the team before turning their attention to WWE talk, including a brief review of Crown Jewel and a look ahead to Survivor Series.  Joe ends the segment with his finisher, a strong take on people who use the salary cap as an excuse for Buffalo’s offensive inactivity.

As has been done a few times previously on this podcast, the episode ends with the playing of an original music track by a talented non-mainstream artist.  Today’s selection is “Tangle With Ya” from electric guitarist and rock virtuoso Robben Ford, whose new studio album Purple House drops today. You can order the album at: https://robbenford.lnk.to/PurpleHousePR and be sure to check out Robben’s website www.robbenford.com for music, tour dates and news.

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Follow Patrick Moran on Twitter @patmorantweets and “like” the Moran-Alytics Facebook page.

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On this episode of the Moran-Alytics Podcast, Patrick Moran is joined by his segment co-partner Tone Pucks for a full podcast worth of “Pat with Pucks” that discusses many topics.

The Buffalo Bills suffered another humiliating loss on Sunday, this time at home to the Chicago Bears, 41-9 in a contest that saw their offense as anemic as ever.  The blowout loss poses the question that by investing so heavily in the offseason on the defensive side of the ball, is Bills management going about trying to build a contender the wrong way in today’s NFL?

Several other Bills related topics are deliberated, including if Sunday should be the end of the road for Nate Peterman for good as well as examining if Lesean McCoy and Charles Clay should be part of the organization going forward after this season. Also, Moran wonders why in God’s name would head coach Sean McDermott kick a field goal when he was team was trailing by four touchdowns in the second half, notices the offensive line rearing its ugly head yet again and the two firmly agree one the weakest link to the Bills defense.

After the dust settles from Bills talk, Pucks (@tonepucks) hits on the Buffalo Sabres semi-surprising good start to the NHL season while Moran grudgingly is forced to give props to a team he hates more than life itself, the Boston Red Sox after they won another World Series.

The segment takes a fun turn as the two reminisce about the Billboard Top 10 songs from 30 years ago on this date in 1988 before Pucks hits his Puck Drop on a Sabres forward he doesn’t think will be with the team long term and Moran reveals his Pat Peeve of the Week— having to wish everyone a Happy Birthday on Facebook.

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On this episode of the Moran-Alytics Podcast, Patrick Moran interviews one of the more engaging writers of the Buffalo sports media scene over the past two decades.  Bucky Gleason, writer for the Buffalo Maven and sports talk radio host at 1270 The Fan joins the podcast for a wide-ranging interview.

The two start at Gleason’s youth, talking about him being born and raised in Hamburg, New York and his love of sports, particularly basketball at a very young age.

Of course, Gleason would go on to be best known for his 20 years at The Buffalo News.  Gleason talks about his time there, including thoughts on one of the biggest legends to ever work there, Jim Kelley.  Alongside several others, Gleason made headlines earlier this year when he accepted a buyout offer and abruptly left the News.  Gleason offers his opinion on the series of events that led him to decide a buyout was his best course of action.

The discussion turns to Gleason’s current ventures. He reveals what led to opportunities to write for the Buffalo Maven as well as the Bucky and Sully radio show, both alongside his colleague and friend Jerry Sullivan.  He talks about the highs and lows of each, his brotherly relationship with Sullivan and why he thinks his show is different than other shows around.

They wind down with Gleason’s strong takes on the Buffalo Sabres tank era before finishing off with the Mini-Lightning Round, where we learn among other things he nearly became a State Trooper instead of a sports journalist.

You can read Bucky Gleason’s work at the Buffalo Maven website and be sure to check out the Bucky and Sully radio show weekday mornings between 9:00am and noon on 1270 The Fan

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Follow Patrick Moran on Twitter @patmorantweets and “like” the Moran-Alytics Facebook page.

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On this episode of the Moran-Alytics Podcast, Patrick Moran interviews a very talented sports reporter at WGRZ-TV Channel 2 in Buffalo, Heather Prusak on a variety of topics.

The two discuss Prusak’s growing up in the Town of Hamburg (New York), why she had her heart set on staying nearby to attend Syracuse for college, and they retrace the career steps that led to Prusak’s opportunity at WGRZ-TV, including stints at the college’s Citrus TV and a video production internship with the Buffalos Bisons that saw her go above and beyond.

Moran also gets Prusak’s takes on several sports media topics, discuss what it is about Western New York that remains so endearing to them before ending the conversation by putting Prusak through the Mini-Lightning Round where we find out many of her favorites, including a surprising favorite Twitter follow and a country music superstar among her three most desired dinner guests.

You can follow Heather on Twitter (@haprusak) and of course check out her work at WGRZ.com when she’s not on the air at Channel 2.

Immediately after that Moran is joined by his buddy Joe from NYC (@buffalowins) for another installment of “The Run-In With Joe.”  Today the two are discussing a historically shocking evening of WWE Monday Night Raw this past Monday, both in the real world and kayfabe.  WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns announced at the beginning of the show that he has Leukemia and has to immediately leave to focus on his health and family, which got Moran and Joe thinking about the saddest sports moments they could remember. During the entertainment portion of the show, Dean Ambrose shockingly turned on his partner Seth Rollins seconds after the two captured the tag team titles, which got the guys reminiscing about the most shocking heel turns ever.

They talk Chad Kelly’s latest disaster and buzz about a potential strain between Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott and general manager Brandon Beane before Joe hits his finisher on the reputation of blue collar football.

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On this episode of the Moran-Alytics Podcast, Patrick Moran hooks up with his buddy Tone Pucks for an extended edition of “Pat with Pucks” to gab Buffalo Bills, Buffalo Sabres, UB Bulls and MLB World Series.

The Bills were humiliated in Indianapolis Sunday by the previously one-win Colts, 37-5.  It was an afternoon where the offense turned the ball over five times and the defense was no better — powerless to stop neither Andrew Luck nor the suddenly potent Indianapolis run game.  Moran and Pucks sift through the mess, or at least what they saw from it after each admitted neither stuck around to see all four quarters.

Is this the worst Bills offense ever? Does it really matter if Derek Anderson or Nate Peterman are the quarterback? How many players on the offensive side of the ball will be back in 2019? Why does Bills radio announcer John Murphy says Bills quarterbacks “fired” the ball so often? If this is an elite defense then why did the unit look like it quit in Indy? How much blame should Sean McDermott receive and has the shine worn off the Bills second-year head coach?  All these Bills topics and more are discussed.

The two also talk the Sabres and their surprising 5-4 start over their first night games; a beginning to the season that had Pucks eating his own Twitter words over the weekend.  Thoughts on Jeff Skinner, Rasmus Dahlin, Sam Reinhart and Buffalo’s goaltenders are also hit on during this segment.

Not to be forgotten are the 7-1 UB Bulls and a huge ESPN2 home contest looming against Ohio on Tuesday, October 30th as well as World Series predictions between the Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers.

This episode concludes with a “Puck Drop” on Sabres general manager Jason Botterill,  the “Pat Peeve of the Week” on the NFL not flexing the Bills out of Monday Night Football and Moran shouting out the potential for a Mariah Carey implosion at an upcoming Buffalo concert next spring.

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A fan favorite returns on this episode of the Moran-Alytics Podcast as Patrick Moran has a chat with Buffalo Bills super fan Ezra Castro, better known as Pancho Billa.

Castro was a guest on the podcast back on Episode No. 43 and it was a deep dive interview covering many topics including his childhood, how he became a Bills fan, his cancer diagnosis and subsequent fight with it and several memorable stories.

Today’s chat is more of a follow up as Moran checks in to see how Poncho is feeling these days while also getting his take on what he’s seen from his beloved Buffalo Bills so far this season.

Castro also provides a few fun stories from his latest game day tailgating experiences.

You can follow Castro on Twitter at @Panchobilla1.  There’s also a Go Fund Me page set up to help support his ongoing fight with cancer at Pancho Power.

Immediately after that Joe from NYC (@Buffalowins) joins Moran for his “The Run-In With Joe” segment. Today the guys are running through the list of Bills quarterbacks that have started since Jim Kelly retired, which now sits at 19 following the announcement Wednesday that newly signed Derek Anderson will get the starting nod this Sunday. Joe power ranks the best and worst of those quarterbacks and gives his insight on Anderson, which (spoiler alert) is not very flattering.

They also debate whether Josh Allen’s elbow injury is a blessing in disguise, if the likelihood of a Lesean McCoy trade has increased with Allen on the shelf and if Kyle Williams could emerge as a trade candidate before Joe ends with a take on concussions in the NFL.

This episode ends with an original track, “Run to the River” by talented Buffalo-born country/pop artist Caitlin Koch. You can check out her bio, tour dates and other information on her website at www.caitlinkoch.com

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Follow Patrick Moran on Twitter @patmorantweets and “like” the Moran-Alytics Facebook page.

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